Trade targets for each key remaining weakness within Thunder rotation

The OKC Thunder are heading into 2024-25 looking to prove that last year's top-seeded, 57-win finish wasn't an aberration but, rather, the beginning of something truly special.

With a star core trio of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, and Jalen Williams all in their early-to-mid 20s and leading the charge, and accompanied by a slew of other top-flight contributors such as Lu Dort, Isaiah Hartenstein, Alex Caruso, and Aaron Wiggins, many see Oklahoma City as a legitimate threat to take home the Larry O'Brien Trophy in the near future.

Of course, before they can thrust themselves over the proverbial hump and into ultimate glory, the organization must try to address the very few, albeit evident weaknesses that exist within their rotation.

While the hope may be to find a solution to these sore spots from within, scouring the trade market for outsourced help could prove to be the more immediate approach, and, with their influx of draft assets, the Thunder can more than afford to look toward such a route in an effort to tie up their key loose ends.

Weaknesses within Thunder rotation and the trade targets to fix them

Weakness No. 1) Backup point guard

This summer, the Thunder opted to part ways with their former lottery-selected floor general, Josh Giddey via the splashy trade with the Chicago Bulls that ultimately netted the ball club, Alex Caruso.

Though it's hard to argue Sam Presti and company made the wrong decision to execute such a deal, as they landed an elite 3-and-D wing who easily better compliments this rotation all without parting with any draft capital in the process, in doing so it carved out a sizeable hole on their depth chart, particularly behind the likes of superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Without Giddey in tow, Oklahoma City severely lacks in the true point guard department, as their backcourt is predominantly filled with twos rather than ones. Should they stand pat with their current construction, this could be an issue in the secondary ball-handling and set-up departments on the offensive side of the ball.

Trade target: Dennis Schroder

Already familiar with what it takes to not only play in Loud City but endear oneself to the franchise and its faithful followers, a reunion with Dennis Schroder might be exactly what the Thunder could use to address their backup point guard needs.

While he may be five years removed from his career-best campaign out in OKC (averaged 18.9 points, 4.0 assists, and 3.6 rebounds on 38.5 percent shooting from deep in 2019-20), the 30-year-old is still a more-than-competent one guard who, just last season, posted solid averages of 14.0 points, 6.1 assists, and 3.0 rebounds while shooting 37.5 from deep.

A trusty ball handler, steady passer, and an efficient scoring threat, adding these attributes along with his expiring contract (off the books just in time for recent lottery pick Nikola Topic's expected 2025-26 debut) could prove to be yet another strategic and highly impactful move made by Presti and company.

Weakness No. 2) Power forward

The most likely candidates that will be found serving as the primary power forward option for the Thunder this coming campaign are Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren, and Isaiah Hartenstein, none of whom are true fours, with the former being a natural three and the two latter players being traditional fives.

Sure, J-Dub did a fine job manning the position last year, as he went on to drop sensational averages of 19.1 points, 4.5 assists, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.1 steals while shooting 54.0 percent from the floor and 42.7 percent from distance, but, considering he measures in at just 6-foot-5, 211 pounds and the average build for the position is roughly 6-foot-8, 225 pounds, there's a clear built-in disadvantage to keeping things as is.

Trade target: Dorian Finney-Smith

We find ourselves looking toward the borough of Brooklyn yet again with the likes of Dorian Finney-Smith, who, in many ways, projects as an optimal talent to have slotted in at power forward for this Thunder team.

While he may not be that rough and tough rebounder some fans may wish to see the team add to their roster heading into 2024-25, the veteran is a proven 3-and-D commodity who has aided in numerous deep playoff runs.

A tough-nosed defender with a high-end motor, Finney-Smith is coming off his eighth season in the association where he dropped per-game averages of 8.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.6 assists while shooting roughly 35 percent from beyond the arc.

His skill set coupled with his 6-foot-7, 220 pound frame would be a clear improvement to what they currently have waiting in the reserves at the power forward position.

Weakness No. 3) Frontcourt size

This summer the Thunder looked to address their lacking size down low with the addition of Isaiah Hartenstein on day two of free agency. With his arrival, coach Mark Daigneault now has two players above 7 feet tall in both I-Hart and Chet Holmgren, which, on the surface, is a clear improvement.

However, behind these presumed starters is still a depth chart that is rather vertically challenged, as they roster just one other full-time player who measures in at over 6-foot-8 (Jaylin Williams).

One injury or another unforeseen scenario that relegates either one of these players in the newly formed towering tandem to the sidelines could create the same, lackluster size problem they endured throughout last season, which is why the front office may want to look into adding another sizeable commodity to their depth chart ahead of season's tip-off.

Trade target: Kelly Olynyk

Kelly Olynyk is a tried and true big man who has seen substantial action on numerous playoff-bound teams throughout his 11-year career. Measuring in at 6-foot-11, 240 pounds the 33-year-old would be a major improvement in both the length and width department.

On top of this, considering his underrated athleticism and defensive versatility, Olynyk could be used at either the four or five, which only adds to the lineup creativity coach Daigneault could work with should the big man come aboard.

Weakness No. 4) Long-range shooting

Although Oklahoma City finished last season off with the highest shooting percentage from distance at a 38.9 percent clip, they did so while registering in the bottom half in attempts per game at 34.2.

On top of this, their efficiency fell off a cliff in the postseason, especially when playing against the Dallas Mavericks in round two where they converted on a league-worst 33.5 percent of their shots from beyond the arc.

Though the addition of Alex Caruso (career 38.0 percent three-point shooter) is expected to help improve their shooting productivity during this upcoming campaign, it couldn't hurt to look for another trusty sniper to add to the mix.

Trade target: Kelly Olynyk

The acquisition of Kelly Olynyk would kill two birds with one stone for the Thunder.

Not only would he provide much-needed size and depth to the frontcourt rotation, but his arrival would also bring Oklahoma City a career 36.9 percent shooter from distance.

Since 2015-16 the veteran has shot below 35.0 percent from deep just twice, while seeing averages above 37.0 percent on five separate occasions.

In 78 games played last season, Olynyk wound up seeing shooting splits of 55.5/38.7/83.3 while posting 9.8 points and 5.3 rebounds a night, showing that even though he may be on the "wrong" side of 30 his scoring skills are still well intact and could be of great bench contributor on this title-hopeful Thunder squad.